The Second Trimester in Your Pregnancy

You should know that every pregnancy is different. Your experiences may not be like those described here, but may still be perfectly normal. Talk to your doctor or midwife about any questions or concerns you have.

I'm not a doctor or midwife, so I can't tell you if your pregnancy is developing normally or not. I hope the things I discuss here will help you know what to expect during your pregnancy, but don't consider this to be medical advice. Get your medical advice from a qualified doctor or midwife.

Weight gain

You'll gain the most weight during the second trimester. It's normal to gain 25-35 pounds during pregnancy. If you're overweight before you get pregnant, talk to your doctor or midwife about how much weight you should gain. No matter how much you weigh when you get pregnant, you will need to gain a certain amount of weight during your pregnancy. It's important to eat healthy, but this is not the time to go on a diet.

You might get stretch marks on your breasts and belly as you gain weight.

Leg cramps

Some women get leg cramps (Charley horses) during pregnancy. You may be able to prevent this by making sure you get enough calcium. Drink three glasses of milk each day or substitute other foods like yogurt or cottage cheese, and make sure you take your prenatal vitamins.

Swollen hands and feet

Hormonal changes will cause you to retain water and might cause your hands and feet to swell. Limit the amount of salt you eat and keep your feet elevated when you can.

If the swelling seems severe, if your face gets swollen, if you get a sudden severe headache, and/or find you are peeing a lot less than usual, call your doctor or midwife. These could be early signs of a condition called toxemia, which could be dangerous to you and your baby is you don't get it treated.

Hemorrhoids

As your baby grows, he or she will put more and more pressure on your pelvic organs, which can cause the veins in your rectum to swell. These may or may not be painful. Taking warm baths should help, and you can buy medicine to put on your hemorrhoids at any drugstore (you don't need a prescription). Some common medicines for this are called Tucks and Preparation H.